“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ And the LORD said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to My words that he shall speak in My Name, I Myself will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My Name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.'”
(Deuteronomy 18:15-20 ESV)
Moses was talking to the people of Israel on the day before he died, and he reminded them of a pretty embarrassing moment from their past. God had brought them to the mountain of Horeb (Sinai), and they heard God’s voice speaking directly to them—and it was too much for them. They freaked out. And they begged Moses to ask God to stop it, and to talk only to Moses from then on, so they wouldn’t have to be exposed to God in all His power and possibly die.
So now, Moses, says, remember what you asked for, because God has promised to do it. God will send someone else like Moses to speak the words of God to all the people—so make sure you pay attention. Whoever doesn’t pay attention will be in deep, deep trouble.
So when did God keep this promise? He kept it when He sent Jesus.
Jesus is a prophet like Moses—and yet, so much more than just a prophet. Jesus is God Himself, come down from heaven to be a human being like us. He was born as a tiny baby, grew up in a village in the back of beyond, and grew to manhood doing all the same work we do. And then He went out into the world to do the work that only God could do—to speak God’s Word to the people, to teach, preach, heal, and forgive.
But that wasn’t all. At the end of His ministry, Jesus willingly lay down His own life for the sake of God’s people. He allowed Himself to be betrayed by a friend, and was arrested, mocked, whipped, and crucified. How could God let things like that happen to Him? Only for love—love of us.
And then He rose from the dead, never to die again, so that you and me who trust in Him will never have to suffer eternal death. No, we will be with Him forever, happy and joyful—if indeed we listen, and trust in the One God promised to us. That’s Jesus!
We Pray: Dear Father, thank You for sending us Jesus, the One who speaks Your Words to us. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on January 23, 2024
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights
Reflection Questions:
1. Would you prefer to look at Jesus in human flesh or to look at God Himself in His glory?
2. Why?
3. Why do you think God took on human nature when He came to us?